In form duo, Michael Igoe and Will Atkins claimed a 3rd Protyre Circuit Rally Championship victory in as many events as they just edged out John Griffiths and Emma Morrison to take Lee Holland Memorial Rally Victory for the second successive year at the very picturesque Anglesey Circuit.
The current pause in Welsh forest rallying provided the perfect opportunity to make a maiden visit to Anglesey Circuit, possibly the most scenic of all the UK circuits, for round 6 of the 2024/25 Protyre Circuit Rally Championship.
Jointly organised by the Garstang and Preston and Pendle District Motor Clubs, the Lee Holland Memorial Rally would feature 6 stages, making use of all available asphalt and boast an impressive entry list (including separate events for the Juniors and Cross Cars) headed by 2024 winners Michael Igoe and Will Atkins in their Citroen C3 Rally2.
It was however the Skoda Fabia R5 of John Griffiths and Emma Morrison who would top the time sheets after the first loop of 2 stages courtesy of setting fastest time on SS1, but it would be the middle loop of partially reversed stages that would prove pivotal to the outcome of the event.
As it was, ex British GT racing driver, Igoe was able to complete stages 3 and 4 a combined 11 seconds quicker than the Rainworth Skoda backed Fabia as Igoe perfected his setup whilst his main rival on the day was plagued by a lack of grip; thus leaving Igoe and Atkins sitting on a comfortable 10 second lead with just over 12 miles remaining.
Any thoughts of a relaxed run to the finish may have been quickly eroded when the Citroen man out-braked himself at a junction on SS5 but Igoe and Atkins were back on form in stage 6 where the formidable pairing were able find an additional 8 seconds to match the time of Griffiths and claim a hard fought 5 second victory.
Griffiths meanwhile would be left to rue the tyre choice error on the middle loop which left any ambitions of the title probably requiring he and Morrison to outscore the Citroen man on all 3 of the remaining rounds. A tough ask on current form!
25 seconds back in third were Kiaran Hankin and Ben Butterworth in another Citroen C3 Rally2 after a strong run saw them pip the father/son combo of John and Alex Stone (VW Polo R5) to the final step on the podium by just 8 seconds.
Chris West and Keith Hounslow were a very welcome addition to the entry list in their Peugeot 306 Maxi and the duo would be rewarded with Class C victory, 5th overall and the first 2 wheel drive crew home after a strong drive. Meanwhile Wil Owen and Robbie Sandford would just hold off a late charge from the Similar MK2 Escort of Dave Willett and John Davies to claim the honour of first rear wheel drive crew home and the class C runner up spot.
Elsewhere class victories would go the way of Mei Davies and Dylan Thomas (Class D) aboard their Ford Escort MK2 with 10th, Christian Davies and Ethan Zdrodowski (Class B) in their Ford Fiesta with 17th, the Mazda Mx-5 crew of Xavier Brodie and Jonathan Cragg (Class E) with 25th and Gareth Roberts and Ben Forrester aboard their Citroen AX (Class F).
Richard Rees (Mygale XC04) meanwhile would dominate the Cross Car rally whilst Ollie Forrester and George Myatt would head an Ultra close Junior battle that saw the top 3 covered by a mere 6 seconds as Skoda Citigos locked out the podium positions!
The weather may not have turned out quite as favourable as forecast (Anglesey must have been one of the few places in the UK that didn’t see wall to wall sunshine on the day) but it turned out to be well worth the near 7 hour round trip. What a great little venue that doesn’t look the least bit out of place on the stunning North Wales coast line. I doubt this will be my last visit.
Next up for me is more rallying on the black stuff with the AGBO stages at Weston Park!
GALLERY
Paul Commons Motorsport 